There
is a dedicated crew of law enforcement officers doing some of the most
difficult police work in our state, but if you saw them on the job, you may not
know they’re police officers.

They
won’t drive up in a police cruiser, or walk the beat downtown in a uniform. But
every day, they are confronted by the worst kinds of criminals, and a category
of human depravity that all of us should be lucky to avoid for our entire
lives.

They
are the men and women of the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, and they
are responsible for the investigation and arrests of people who use 21st
century technology to commit crimes -- including child pornographers who abuse
vulnerable children for profit, and the sick individuals who create demand for
those products.

The
11 officers who make up the CCU do some of the hardest work of law enforcement.
And they do their jobs well. Their investigations have taken predators off the
streets and led to justice for abused children.

But
they need our help.

The
CCU needs about $89,000 of investment in new software, computer upgrades and
renewed analyst training.

We
recently learned that the state can expect a budget surplus of almost $73
million. That increased revenue is a good sign for Maine’s economy -- it means
individuals and businesses are earning more than the experts had predicted.

Gov.
Paul LePage has proposed putting all of that surplus in the state’s
Budget Stabilization Fund, the state savings account more commonly known as the
“rainy day fund.” I understand that impulse. We all know that when we receive
unexpected money, the smart thing to do is to save it.

However,
no families in our community would say it’s smart to put your whole paycheck
into savings before the mortgage and car payment are made. Our state
has some unpaid bills too, whether it’s the shortfall faced by our local
schools or the investments needed in the CCU.

My
house and senate colleagues on the appropriations are doing the hard work right
now of striking the right fiscal balance. I testified before the committee on
March 7, telling them about the critical need in the CCU, and I’m hopeful
they’ll consider that need as they make their decisions about the upcoming
surplus.

I
am disgusted by the frequency of stories about criminals abusing children --
whether it’s the monster creating and distributing child pornography, or the
degenerate trafficking those suffering children. But I’m far more
wary of a scenario in which those stories are never published, because those
criminals are allowed to operate with impunity, out of reach of law enforcement
officers who can’t keep up with them.

In
the high-tech world of computer crimes, our police officers need the best, most
up-to-date resources available to keep up with criminals. Fortunately, the legislature
should be able to provide this funding easily.

AUGUSTA – Thursday morning in the house,
Democrats voted against Maine’s small businesses when they refused to allow
Maine voters to consider a competing measure to the minimum wage increase
referendum being sent to voters this November.

Late Thursday afternoon, Rep. Sue Austin
(R) of Gray came up with a way to keep the debate
alive and thanks to her efforts, the competing measure will live to see another
day. Rep. Austin offered an amendment to LD 674 “An Act To Support Maine's Working Families,” a bill carried over from last session that was about to be killed by
the committee. Rep. Austin amended the bill to mirror the competing minimum
wage proposal offered by House Republicans in an effort to support the small
business community.

“This was a bill the
Democrats had sitting around from last session that they had no more use for
and was set to be killed. I thought of the minimum wage issue which was fresh
in my mind from the morning debate in the house and I strongly believe this
deserves more discussion,” said Rep. Austin. “We have all heard from our small
businesses and restaurant workers who have pleaded with us to offer the voters
a sustainable compromise on minimum wage. This bill was a vehicle sitting right
in front of us to do just that. I did this because it’s the right thing to do
for the people of Maine who could see their hours cut or lose their jobs, and
for our small businesses who have also told us how devastating a $12 per hour
minimum wage would be.”

Details of the “Sue Austin
Amendment”:

-The current minimum hourly
wage in Maine is $7.50 per hour. The current federal minimum hourly wage is
$7.25 per hour/

-Starting January 1, 2017,
the minimum hourly wage would increase to $8.50 per hour.

- Starting January 1, 2018,
the minimum hourly wage would increase to $9.00 per hour.

-Starting January 1, 2019,
the minimum hourly wage will increase to $9.50 per hour.

-Starting January 1, 2020
the minimum hourly wage would increase to $10.00 per hour.

·There would be no change to the tip
credit and no automatic indexing.

Serving my fifth term in the Maine
Legislature, I am reminded that nothing is easy here under the Maine State
Dome. Hence the ole’ saying, nothing ventured, nothing gained! Well, after a
month long tug of war with much debate and a tremendous amount of nail biting
frustration, we gained critical passage of a very positive piece of
legislation. That bill, known as the tax conformity bill, means Maine will
conform to the recent changes made to the federal tax laws last December.

On the surface it sounds rather drab and
plain, but for our businesses scattered all across Maine this is something very
substantial. This bill provides $38 million in tax relief to the Maine people
and our state’s businesses as it also supports a predictable and stable climate
for businesses to operate in. Due in large part to our high tax rates and high
energy costs, Maine has developed a reputation for being unfriendly to
business. Passing this bill sends that positive message for those who want to
shed that image and instead show with “proof in the pudding” that Maine
welcomes business and capital investment with our doors wide open.

We also welcome the good paying jobs
that come with those investments. I’ve been on the state committee of
jurisdiction that addresses public policy for business for almost 10 years and
there has always been one certainty of need resoundingly expressed within the
business community: Business wants the continuum of predictability and
consistency that sound state policy can provide. Nourishing capital goes
and grows where it’s welcomed and stays and plays where it’s wanted.

For our presently established Maine
business partners, and for investors looking at Maine as a possible new
business location, alignment of tax conformity isn’t boring or drab! It gives
affirmative testimony to being welcomed and wanted players in a vibrant Maine
economy!

Rep.
Sue Austin represents the people of House District 67 - Casco (part), Frye Island, Gray (part) and Raymond (part)

Bradley Smith of Windham was announced the winner of the
Southern Maine Gearbots T-shirt design
contest. The T-shirt with Bradley's
design will be worn by participants at the upcoming Southern Maine Gearbots
District Meet. Along with the plaque he will also be receiving a robotics
kit for completing the winning design. Area teams from Gray, Massabesic,
Portland, Windham, Raymond, Saco and other surrounding communities have been
working on their team-based projects over the past several months and will
participate in the Southern Maine Gearbots District Meet to show off their
work. The event, which includes competitive robot events, technical poster
sessions, raffles, food and multiple interactive robot displays is open to the
public and free of charge to attend. The event will take place at St.
Joseph's College in the Alfond Center gymnasium at 278 White’s Bridge Road in
Standish on Saturday, March 26th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sixth
grader Matthew Fox won the annual National Geographic Geography Bee at Windham
Middle School recently and has now qualified for the state geography bee to be
held April 1 at the University of Maine at Farmington.

“I’ve
always had an interest in geography. I have maps and globes in my room. I chose
to do it because thought it would be fun,” Fox said.

Fox
is not the first sixth grader to win the Windham bee, but he is one of the few
to beat out seventh and eighth graders, according to bee coordinator, teacher
Julie Anderson.

The
questions were the luck or unluck of the draw, but for Fox, he was prepared
having studied with his father, a social studies teacher in Falmouth. Each
night, Fox and his father would sit down and do geography flash cards.

Fox
got all seven of the questions in the first round correct. “We thought, he
knows his stuff across the board,” Anderson said.

The
hard questions were the ones with no options and he had to name a country or
capital, Fox said. “Some I knew off the top of my head.” When he called his mom
to tell her the good news, she thought he was out because the bee took less
time than they expected. They celebrated the win with ice cream.

He
is still preparing for the state bee. “I don’t expect to be close to winning,”
he said. “But, I made it that far, so that’s pretty good.” To qualify for the
state bee, Fox had to take an electronic test and be one of the top 100 scores
in the state. The winner of the state bee will go to Washington DC for the
National geography bee.

Fox
is on the Windham Middle School learning team of Stokes/Hopkins/Cook.

Fox
would like to be a United States Marine or a basketball player when he grows
up. “I want to do something that helps America,” he said.

The
WMS runner up was eighth grader Owen Flibbert. “It was very competitive,” said
Anderson.

The
final question was “British Columbia’s largest city hosted the 2015 FIFA
Women’s World Cup championship game. Name this city.”

Once a month, the Lighthouse Knitting
Guild of Maine gathers at the Windham Public Library to work on their latest
knitting or crocheting project, to talk and to learn. As a part of The Knitting
Guild Association, the local group receives benefits from area businesses and
can also be a member of the National guild as well. The biggest perk is the
comradery from like-minded knitters locally.

“We sit and knit,” said guild president
Jenn Fleck. “We teach people to knit and become proficient.” The guild started
in September and has been quietly meeting since then.

The group has speakers from within the
organization and some from outside their membership. Last weekend, Pam Harwood
of Longwoods Alpaca Farm taught the guild about Fair Isle knitting. She also
brought many items to sell since she is downsizing in preparation to live on a
boat.

Most members work along with the class,
but many bring their own knitting projects to work on when there is free time.
The friendly group welcomes newcomers and is eager to talk about their projects
and show off their work. No one is left out of the conversation.

At the April meeting, there will be a
yarn swap. Members bring in any yarn or knitting supplies they no long need and
take home other items or yarn. Left overs will be used for a fundraiser. In
addition to the yarn swap, they will also be a group knit to learn continental
knitting.

The board members are Fleck, vice
president Julie Nye, secretary Kim Gouzie and treasurer Jackie Lambert. The
knitters also provide information on charities that accept knit items, like
hats, mittens, scarves and gloves for students.

Membership dues are $10 for the first
year. They are hoping to have a booth at Summerfest to help raise money for
more speakers and activities.

The guild meets the first Saturday of
the month unless it’s a holiday. For more about the organization, visit them on
Facebook or at their website www.flecksoffiber.wordpress.com/lighthouse-knitting-guild-of-maine.

Attention
all local Veterans. American Legion Field -Allen Post 148 Service Officer,
Chuck Whynot, is starting a pilot program at the Windham Veterans Center for
local Veterans. Chuck is inviting local vets to come to the Windham Veterans
Center on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for socializing, comradery and
possibly a chance to reminisce over coffee or play cards or cribbage. This is a
chance for vets to get out of the house and visit with fellow vets. Interested
Veterans should be ambulatory and self-sufficient. This is not a drop-off
program. If there is interest, then additional opportunities might be in the
offering in the future. This program will start on Wednesday, March 23rd.

Nine-year-old Jacob Anderson is The
Windham Eagle student of the week. Jacob attends Raymond Elementary School and
is in Maria Parisi’s third grade class. He hopes to become a game warden after
he goes to college. He likes math best.

When asked who has meant the most in his
education, Jacob said, “I havetosaythatlastyearbeingmyfirstyearinRES,thepersonthathasmeantthe mosttomyeducationwouldbemysecond gradeteacherMrs. Pennington.Shemademe feelso welcomeinmynewschool,pushedmetolearnabouteverything,andbelievedin methatI coulddo itall.”

Jacob lives with his mom, dad, two
younger sisters and a dog named Indy.

Jacob likes the first two Harry Potter
movies. He really likes building with Legos. “It is awesome to see what I can
build!” He also likes biking, hiking mountains, fishing, camping and swimming.
In the winter he ice fishes, snowshoeing and sledding.

He is a bear in Cub Scouts and is in the
third and fourth grade chorus, takes hip hop classes, plays soccer and does Mad
Science and cooking classes.